Super cool find today in my stash!
 

My SIL gave me some of her deceased mother's stash which included some pre-cut fabric for a dresden plate with around 10 blocks finished, batting, and quite an assortment of muslin of various colors and weights.

I thought it would be nice to finish the dresden plate blocks and make a quilt out of them and return to my SIL. That was not as easy as it sounds as her mother was trying to put 18 22.5 degree wedges into each plate circle. This was probably her mother's last quilt -- maybe her age, health or her eyes -- because she did some really beautiful work when she was younger/healthier.

I took her blocks apart and put back together with 16 blades and made enough new blocks for a 6x7 block setting. I finished putting all the dresden circles together in the last few days and decided I wanted to use some of her mother's muslin as base to applique them to. I washed, starched and today ironed them. Her mother had stitched together a number of these approx. 33" squares -- probably intended as a backing for this quilt. I ripped those apart to make them easier to cut into 15" squares. During the pressing of those pieces, I found one with a very faint blue lettering. Upon closer inspection I found that the lettering was this:

100 lb bag
Granulated Sugar
(company name here which I don't remember)
Havana, CUBA

These 33" squares were from old (very old ) bags that were imported from Cuba with sugar in them.

When did we quit buying sugar from Cuba? In the 50's?

The fabric is very strong. No weakness of the threads from being stored so long. There are some age spots and a few stains, but I am still going to use them as background for the plates. I think that only adds to the final project. And I am going to cut that segment with the blue lettering and use for the back.

I just think this is super cool!

A real piece of history. Would love to see some pictures.

Where are the pictures????? Cool finds for sure!

Isn't that just FUN!!! How cool!

Jan in VA

I just love finding pieces of history! I checked on when we stopped getting sugar from Cuba. I copied this from this website http://www.coldwarstudies.com/2010/1...can-sanctions/

"In retaliation, in July 1960, Cuba’s sugar quota was cut from the US market when Eisenhower cut Cuban sugar imports by 700,000 tons, the balance of the quota for 1960. He then fixed any future quota at zero. This move was devastating because, under normal circumstances, Cuba sold an average of 3,000,000 tons of sugar each year to the United States, at “prices that had been kept artificially high by laws designed to protect the high – cost US producer.”"

This is just an awesome thing to do. I love the idea of making sure the label on the fabric show and the history of the quilt is present right there.
Wonderful. Can you post Pics'? Please!
peace

That is a fun find!! I've never run across anything that nice! At one time I was looking for some handkerchief fabric - no one in town had any. I was not a happy camper. Later I was looking for something in my stash and ran across 3 yards of handkerchief fabric!

How exciting to find something like this and what a great idea to incorporate it into the project. Good for you!

Wow! Cant wait to see you post the finished masterpiece!

First, that is very sweet of you to do this for her. Second, it is so nice to have a bit of history involved with the project. I wonder if you could include an extra label with some of this info. It will be very interesting to the future generation.

Thanks for this... I also found another link from a more personal perspective Interesting reading too. This is part of the story of the man who owned the company that grew the sugar cane and refined the sugar. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/c0745822-9f6b-11df-8732-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2SvLxO6Z5

I am trying to upload a photo I took of the fabric. The writing is very faint and I played with colors, etc to try to enhance it sufficiently to read most of it.

That is super cool.

Awesome story!!! Would love to know how why when where! I love history too!

A great piece of history from our country and for your family!

What a great idea. Hope you will post picture!

Write the history , as much as you know, about this quilt. The story adds so much to the enjoyment as you view it. It will also be valuable in years to come for historians knowledge. Hugs and keep up the good work.

Wow!! How interesting! And, what a gift. Enjoy!!!

I would surely save and maybe frame one of these logos. What we don't all learn on a quilting board!

What a wonderful and touching thing to do for this SIL. It will be a special treasure for her and only you will know the adjustments you needed to make to compensate for the difficulties her mother had in later years. This quilt will have a special binding-love and care between two ladies who are sisters at heart!

Pictures of the Dresden Plates when you can please & when the top is finished.

Photos please upon completion! SIL is going to love it.

Oh sounds like you really had a great find. Bless you for taking this on for your SIL. She will love the results and the history you saved with it. Congrats =)

what a treasure

Can not wait to see pictures. What an awesome project. I love finishing up old , old UFO's. I am sure your SIL will treasure it.

Wow...Great find....Post some pics if you can....

First, congratulations on receiving your SIL's Mother's stash - a real treasure, especially finding the sugar sack from Cuba. It sounds like you are doing a wonderful thing for you SIL and I'm sure she will treasure the quilt and your efforts as well.

That makes it very interesting!

I'm cutting I almonds and sewing by hand I have been discovering all fabrics I had forgetten and the amounts . Each diamond is a different fabric.

Great find & how sweet of you to do all that for your SIL. I'msure she'll love it.

Love reading the story about this quilt. What a wonderful gift you will be giving your SIL.

What a wonderful you are preparing for her! And then to find the label and recognize the importance (and fun) of keeping it as a part of the quilt's history - you are a very special lady!

Thanks for all the comments.... I was so excited when I found this and still think it is SO COOL! Can't get much back history on the fabrics now since my SIL doesn't know I am doing this and I want to surprise her. Still has been fun looking at the history on the internet and realizing that I have fabric from these bags that must be at least 60 years old and still in perfect condition. Guess this quilt will live a long time. LOL!

What a great gift!! So nice of you to redo them...